Final answer:
The maximum possible value of 13.7 when rounding to the nearest tenth is 13.7 itself. If considering rounding to the hundredths place, a number like 13.75 would round up to 13.8.
Step-by-step explanation:
The maximum possible value of the number 13.7 when rounding to the nearest tenth is 13.7 itself. Since the digit after the tenth's place (the hundredths place) is zero or not present, the value does not change when rounded to the nearest tenth. However, if we were considering rounding to the hundredths place and we began with a number like 13.74, rounding to the nearest hundredth would not change the number, but with 13.75, it would round up to 13.8 because the hundredths digit is 5, which prompts an upward round in the tenth's place.
In the context of significant figures, the final answer of a calculation should match the least precise measurement. For instance, if we identify the least precise measurement as 13.7 kg, which is expressed to the tenth's decimal place, our final calculation should also be rounded to the tenths place to reflect the level of precision in our least precise number.